Coroner: Inmate death due to excess water consumption

A 36-year-old Salinas Valley State Prison inmate, who was reportedly discovered unconscious and not breathing in his locked single-person cell on March 22, drank a fatal amount of water, an investigation following his death has revealed.

According to a release from the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, Desmond Watkins was a victim of hyponatremia after consuming a large quantity of water over a short period of time.

The excess water in his system resulted in an abnormally low sodium level.

Watkins was discovered alone in his cell by prison officials who enacted advanced life saving measures, according to the release. He was transported to Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead just before midnight.

His death has been deemed accidental.

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Coroner: Inmate death due to excess water consumption

A 36-year-old Salinas Valley State Prison inmate, who was reportedly discovered unconscious and not breathing in his locked single-person cell on March 22, drank a fatal amount of water, an